Scott Powers
The Orlando Regional Realtor Association announced its list of endorsements Thursday, siding with Republicans for the Florida Cabinet positions and incumbents of either party for most other elected offices up in the Nov. 6 election in Orange and Seminole counties.
The Realtor Association did not make an endorsement in Florida’s U.S. Senate race, in which Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Republican Gov. Rick Scott are facing off.
In congressional races, the association is backing Democratic U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy in Florida’s 7th Congressional District, Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Posey in Florida’s 8th Congressional District, and Democratic U.S. Rep. Darren Soto in Florida’s 9th Congressional District.
For the cabinet, the association is backing Republicans Ron DeSantis for Governor, Matt Caldwell for Agriculture Commissioner, Ashley Moody for Attorney General, and incumbent Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis.
The association, which represents more than 14,000 real estate professionals throughout Central Florida, said it considered “candidates based on his or her past voting record and/or sensitivity to real estate issues,” and that the endorsed candidates are now eligible to receive contributions from the Realtors political action committee.
Among other endorsements:
In Florida House races, the Realtors are backing Republican David Smith in House District 50; Republican state Rep. Scott Plakon in House District 29; Republican state Rep. Bob Cortes in House District 30; Republican state Rep. Jennifer Sullivan in House District 31; Republican state Rep. Bobby Olszewski in House District 44; Democratic state Rep. Bruce Antone in House District 46; Democratic state Rep. Amy Mercado in House District 48; Democratic House Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith in House District 49; and Republican state Rep. Rene Plasencia in House District 50.
The group did not endorse in House District 47, where Democrat Anna Eskamani and Republican Stockton Reeves are tussling for an open seat.
The group also endorsed Orlando Police Chief John Mina for Orange County Sheriff; Christine Moore, Mayra Uribe, and Susan Makowski for the Orange County Commission; and Johanna Lopez and Melissa Byrd for the Orange County School Board.
In Seminole County, the group endorsed Jay Zembower and Amy Lockhart for the Seminole County Commission, and Alan Youngblood for the Seminole County School Board.
2 comments
Andy Brown
October 12, 2018 at 9:31 am
Boo! What a sell out. They always back the incumbents. What a waste of dues and RPAC funds. Instead of looking at the issues, ORRA doesn’t want to anger the incumbents because historical odds say incumbents win. Boo again ORRA!
Ray Tampa
October 12, 2018 at 5:26 pm
Andy, your comments are right on point. However, I would like to add the fact that the overwhelming majority of realtors don’t agree with their association’s political action committees. That is evidenced by the fact that Adam Putnam is on the sidelines crying despite the strong support he received from the realtor PACs.
The pathetic and repeated endorsements of republicans, regardless of qualifications, will come back to haunt them in the not to distant future.
Comments are closed.